Circular knitting machine



ADec.'7, 1937. A. A. cAUDLE 2,101,639

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE y l Filed Dec. s, 19:54 4 sheets-sheet 1 De-7, 1937. A. A. cAuDLE 2,101,639

' CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 8, '1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 7,1937. f A.A, CAUDLE 2,101,639

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec; 8, 1934 4 sheets-sheet 5 Dec. 7,1937. A- A CAUDLE 2,101,639

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedDec. 7, 1937 Y UNITED srrrl'resv CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Arthur A.Candle, Hendersonville, N. C., assignor to James P. Grey, Charles L.Grey, and James P. Grey, Jr., a co-partnershipdoing business' as GreyHosiery Mills, Hendersonville, N. C.

Application. December 8, 1934, Serial No. 756,692

This invention relates to circular knitting machines for knitting silkstockings and is adapted to be applied to a machine of the Scott andWilliams type in which a single silk thread is employed in knitting theleg and foot portions of a stocking, and a separate yarn is employed inknitting the toe and heel portions thereof.

It is a well known fact that natural silk threads yare formed withintermittent and relatively heavy l@ and light portions throughout theirlengths. Sometimes these relatively heavy portions extend for twenty ormore feet, and consequently when a thread is knitted into tubular io'rmthese heavy portions of the thread are laid in adjacent con- ]lvolutions or courses which give to the stocking the appearance o'fhaving a. stripe or ring exy tending therearound. Sometimes this stripeis of a relatively narrow width, and sometimes it is relatively very`wide, the width of the stripede- 2o pending upon the length of the heavyportion of the thread. After the stockings have been knitted, they aredyed and therelatively heavy portions of the silk have the appearance ofbeing much darker in shade 'than the relatively light 25 sections.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a circular knittingmachine with means for employing a plurality of silk`threads whenknitting the leg and foot portions of the stocking, 30 whereby the heavyor thick portions of the thread will be dispersed to such an extent thatthe stripes or rings will' be eliminated.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a circular knitting machine with certainparts being omitted, but dfi showing my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a planl view of the head, certain of.

the' parts being omitted;

Figure 3 isan enlarged detail elevation of the stitch cams;` Y it Figure4 is a bottom plan viewof the sinker ring;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross section taken through said ring;

Figure 6 is a' plan View partly'in section showing 45 the dial cap, thesinkerring, the needles and sinkers, and the thread cutters and clampsFigure 7 is an elevation partly in section of the dial frame and showingparticularly the thread cutters and clamps;

Figure 8 is an enlargedV section showing the mounting of one of theauxiliary stitch cams; and

Figure 9 is a. detail perspective view of the pattern cam.

55 My invention is adapted to be applied, with (ci. ss-s) slightmodifications, to the well known Scott and Williams circular knittingmachine employed for knitting tubular silk stockings, and therefore Ihave shown in the accompanying drawings only those parts of such amachine as will enable any 5 one skilled in the art to understand thenature and operation of my invention.

This Scott and Williams machine includes a main head 5 in which thecylinder is rotatably mounted. This cylinder carries the latched nee- 10dles 'l which are vertically reciprocated in the usual manner by meansof a stitch cam" A iixed to a cam ring 8 mounted on the head andreceiving the needle butts El. A thread guide nger IIB which is mountedon the head functions to guide a silk thread a to theneedles at thestitch cam A. Cooperating with the needles to form the stitches are theusual sinkers ll which are actuated by means of a stationary sinker ringl2 mounted on the head and provided with the usual horizontallyextending cam groove ila for receiving the sinker butts. Fixed to thecylinder is a driven gear I3 which is actuated by the usual drivemechanism for rotating the cylinder in an anti-clockwise direction whenknitting the leg and foot portions of a stocking and for oscillating thecylinder when knitting the heel and toe portions of the stocking.Pivoted to the head 5 above the cylinder li is the usual frame ldcarrying the dial l5 which is rotated in the usual manner, andxed to theframe` it above the dial is the usual cap i6. Upon the completion of theleg portion, as well as the foot portion; the thread a is clamped andcut by means of a pivoted clamp il and a pivoted cutter blade i8 whichare both mounted on the ca-p I6. To this end, a rotary pattern drum i9is mounted on the main frame and-is rotated once for each completedstocking by the usual driving connections. Spaced circumferential cams20, 2l are fixed to the ydrum for lifting a vertically disposed thrustrod 22, the

upper lend thereof being disposed under and engageable, with thehorizontal arm 23 of a bell crank lever 2d pivoted at 25 to the dialframe lt. The vertical arm 26 of said lever terminates in an inwardlyextending arm 21 to which is connected the upper end of a vertical link28, the vlower end of the link beingpivotally connected to one end ofthe pivoted thread cutter bladeIl Ill. A spring pusher 29 is mounted onthe frame ld directly under the arm 21 .and functions to normallymaintain the throat of the cutter blade I8 in open positionfor freelyreceiving the thread. A stationary ledger blade 30 is mounted on the capI6 for cooperation with the movable blade I8. 55

The thread clamp II which is pivoted on the cap I6 is normally presseddownwardly by a spring 3I, and is raised by upward movement of thecutter blade I8 to allow the thread to pass thereunder. As soon as thecams 20, 2l pass under the thrust bar, the cutter throat will be openedand the clamp elevated, and as soon as the cams leave the thrust bar thecutter blade and the clamp will be actuated by means of the springpusher 29. As soon as the leg and foot portions have been respectivelycompleted, a thread change-over is made in the usual manner, thecylinder is oscillated, and the heel and toe are thereby knitted. Theseextra threads or yarns which are employed in knitting the heel and toeportions of a stocking are directed to the needles through verticallymovable thread guiding lingers which are operated in proper timedrelation from the pattern drum I9; these fingers and operatingconnections, however, are not shown, as they are well known in the art.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the thread guide finger IU,the stitch cam A, the needles 1, the sinkers I I, and the sinker ring I2constitute a main or primary set of knitting instrumentalities.

In applying my invention -to the above described machine, I provide twoauxiliary and vertically movable thread guide lingers 32, 33 which aremounted for reciprocation in guide brackets 34, 35 attached to the dialframe I4 at spaced points in advance of the stitch cam A. Fixed to thebrackets and extending outwardly therefrom are guides 36, 3'I forleading the auxiliary silk threads b and c to the lower ends of thethread fingers 32, 33. Fixed to the upper end of the thread finger 32 isa laterally extending arm 38 which extends under and has slidingconnection with a pin 39fixed to the upper end of the finger 33, wherebywhen the finger 32 is elevated the finger 33 will be elevated therewith.Fixed to and extending outwardly from the upper end of the thread nger32 is a pin 40 and extending under this pin and having sliding contacttherewith is the free end of a lever arm 4I which i s pivoted at 42 onthe dial frame I4. The downward movement of this lever arm is limitedby' a stop 43 which is also xed to said dial frame. Coil springs 44, 45have their upper ends respectively connected to the fingers 32, 33 andtheir lower ends connected to the brackets 34, 35 and function tonormally hold the thread ngers in cooperative relation with the needles.These thread ngers 32, 33 are automatically withdrawn from theircooperative relation with the needles at the beginning of the heelportion and the toe portion, and are automatically returned tocooperative relation withthe needles upon the completion of said heeland toe portion whereby the three threads, a, b, and c, will be utilizedin knitting three courses during the formation of the leg and footportions of the stocking. In order to swing the lever arm 4I upwardlyand thereby elevate the thread fingers 32, 33, I have employed avertically disposed thrust rod 46 which is movable in upper and lowerguides 4T, 48, as shown in Figure 1. The upper end of this thrust rod 46is positioned under an adjustable eccentric 49 attached to the lever arm4I. lever cooperates with spaced circumferential cams 5U, 5I which arefixed to the pattern drum I9.

Cooperating with the needle butts 9 and located in cooperative relation.with the thread lingers 32, 33 are spaced stitch cams B and C. These Thelower end of the two cams are movable horizontally into and out ofengagement with the needle butts, and when these cams are in operativeposition they cooperate with stationary cam plates 52, 53 fixed to thecam ring 8, to thereby form between the stitch cam B and the plate 52and between the stitch cam C and the plate 53 downwardly inclinedgrooves for receiving the needle butts, as shown in Figure 3. The stitchcams B and C are supported on the head 5 for horizontal reciprocationsand their movements are controlled by the pattern drum I9. 'I'he cams Band C are rigidly attached to the inner ends of bars 54, 55 which areslidably mounted in bearing blocks 56, 5'I fixed to the head 5, saidslide bars being movable in different radial -planes with respect to thecylinder I5.I Mounted in each bearing block is a spring plunger 58 whichbears against a depending shoulder 59 carried by the inner end of thebar and functions to yieldably retain the stitch cam carried thereby innormal cooperative relation with the needles. Mounted in the outer endof each slide bar is an adjustable stop screw 6U which is adapted tocooperate with the associated bearing block and thereby limit the inwardmovement of the slide bar.

In order to periodically retract the stitch cams B and C upon completionof the leg and foot portions of the stocking, I have provided thefollowing mechanism:

Vertically disposed levers 6I, 62 are fulcrumed intermediate their endsto the periphery of the head 5, and links 63, 64 are pivotally connectedto the upper ends of these levers and to the slide bars 54, 55. Thelower ends of the levers 6I, 62

are pivotally connected by links 65, 66 to rock arms 61, 68 fixed to anddepending from a rock shaft 69 journaled in brackets 10, 'I0 dependingfrom head 5. An inwardly extending rock arm 'II is xed to one end of therock shaft 69 and a vertically disposed thrust rod 'I2 has its upper endpivotally connected to the rock arm 'II This thrust rod extendsdownwardly through the lower guide 48 and the lower end thereofcooperates with spaced circumferential cams 13, 'I4 fixed to the patterndrum I9.

When the needles are drawn down by the stitch cams B and C, it isnecessary to shift the associated sinkers II in order to form stitches,as will be readily understood. I have, therefore, provided two spacedsinker cams 'I5, 16, as shown particularly in Figures 4 and 5, and thesetwo cams are disposed in cooperative relation to said stitch cams B andC. The sinker ring I2 has its inner face cut away as at TI, I8 toreceive the sinker cams 15, 16, and these two cams are rigidly mountedon an arm 'I9 which is pivoted at one end as at 8|) to a post 8l xed tothe sinker ring I2, the arm I9 being located above the ring. Normallythe arm I9 is in a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 1, whereinthe sinker cams 15, I6 are normally disposed in cooperative relationwith the needles. When, however, the thread fingers 32, 33 are elevatedupon the completion of the leg portion and foot portion, the sinker camsare likewise elevated so as to throw out these two extra threads b and cto permit the cylinder 6 to be oscillated and thereby form the heel andtoe portions of the stocking. To this end the arm 19 is normally held inits horizontal position against upward movement by means of an extensionarm 82 fixed to the upper end of the thrust rod 46. A coil spring 83surrounds the pivot 80 of this arm and one end engages the latter tonormally -whereupon the cam carrying arm 1.9 will be swung upwardly bymeans of said spring 83. A post 84 is threadably engaged in the sinkerring l2 in close proximity to the arm 19, and Y a vertically adjustablestop 85 is mounted on Athe upper end of said post above said arm tolimit the upward movement of the latter.

When the leg and foot portions of the stocking have been knitted, it isdesirable to cut not only the thread a as previously explained, but alsoto cut the'threads b and c. It is also desirable to clamp the supplyends of these two threads b and'e after they have been cut. To

this end, I have mounted a bracket 36 on the dial cap I6 and havefulcrumed a movable cutting blade 81 on said bracket by means of a'pivotscrew 38. A stationary ledger blade 33 is xed to.the bracket 86, forcooperative engagement with the movable blade 81. A vertically disposedlink` 33 has its lower end pivotally connected to the end of the movableblade 81 opposite the throat thereof, and its upper end connected to anarm of the lever 33. A thread clamp 9i formed of iiat spring metal isattached to the dial cap, as shown in Figure 6. The two threads b and care led under the clamp 3i and across lthe throat of the thread` cutter31, 33, and when the throat is opened these two threads will be receivedtherein, and consequently, when the throat is closed said threads willbe cut and the supply ends of the threads will be clamped by the clamp3i. Thus the lever 33 functions to operate simultaneously the threadcutter i3,

33 for the thread a and also the thread cutter lill, 3 for the threads band c.

In the operation of my invention, we will assume that the leg portion ofthe stocking isbeing knitted. At this time the cylinder is beingrotated, the thread iigures 32 and 33 are disposed in cooperativerelation to the needles, and the stitch cams B and C, as wellasthesinker cams 33, llt, are likewise disposed in cooperative relan tionto the needles.

iro

The needle draws thread a down by stationary stitch cam A to form a loopand a sinker passes into this loop to thereby form the first stitch. Theneedle is thenraised to shed the stitch by a cam 32 which is mounted onthe slide bar 53 of the auxiliary stitch cam B, as shown in Figures 2and 3. The needle is then lowered to engage thread b and form a stitchby means of a cooperating sinker, the latter being moved by the cam 15,and this stitch is then shed by a cam 93 which is mounted on the slidebar 33 f of the auxiliary stitch cam C. The needle is then lowered toengage thread c and form a stitch by means of a cooperating sinker, thelatterbeing moved by the cam 16.

94 which is located on theV cam ring 8 just in advance of cam A. Thus,vit will be seen that by means of my invention,fthree silk threads, a,b, and c, are fed into the machine, and after the initial start thecourses lare formed simultaneously, and that said' courses are arrangedabove one another. Consequently, two courses formed by threads b and cwill be positioned intermediate adjacent courses formed by the thread a.Practice has demonstrated that if only one extra thread were employedthe dark spots This third 'stitch however is not shed until said stitchreaches a cam out of cooperative relation with the needles, and

both the thread cutters are actuated to cut the three threads, a, b, andc. The supply ends of the threads are then clamped as previouslydescribed. The cylinderis then oscillated to effect the knitting of theheel portion of the stocking by a yarn, in the well-known manner. Uponcompletion of the heel portion, the thread fingers 32, 33 are loweredinto cooperative position with the needles, and the stitch cams B and C,as well as the sinker cams 15, 16, are likewise moved into cooperativeposition with the needles to form the foot portion'. Upon completion ofthe foot portion the above mentioned instrumentalities are withdrawnfrom their cooperative relation with the needles and the cylinder isagain oscillated to effect the knitting of the toe portion of thestocking in the well known manner.

It will be` understood that various changes may be made in the specificconstruction and relative arrangement of the parts without departingfrom the invention as defined in the claims.

l. In a circular knitting machine for knitting stockings, thecombination of a frame, a stationary head, an alternatelyI rotary andoscillatory needle-carrying cylinder mounted in said head, a dial framesupported on the head above the cylinder, arotary drum mounted on theframe below the head, and a main set of cooperating knittinginstrumentalities for successively knitting the leg portion, the heelportion, the foot portion and the toe portion of a stocking including avertically movable thread finger supported on the dial frame andnormally disposed in cooperative relation to the needles, a stationarycam ring mounted in the head, a stitch cam on said ring, a sinker camring mounted on the cylinder, and a plurality of sinkers, and anauxiliary set of instrumentalities for knitting at least one extracourse in the leg andfoot portions when the cylinder is being rotated,said auxiliary set functioning subsequent to the main set and includinga vertically movable thread linger mounted on the dial frame andnormally disposed in cooperative relation to the needles, a horizontallyreciprocatory stitch cam mounted on the head and normally disposedincooperative relation to the needles, a horizontally disposed Jeverfulcrumed on the sinker ring, an Aauxiliary cam iixed to said lever andnormally disposed in cooperative relation to said movable stitch tionsincluding a thrust rod having an extension overlying thecam-carryinghlever and normally retaining said lever against upwardmovement.-

2. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a circular head,of a reciprocatory stitch cam mounted on the head for horizontal radialmovements, a vertical lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to theperiphery of said head, a link connecting the upper end of the leverwith said cam, a horizontal rock shaft located below said head andjournaled thereon, a rock arm xed to said rock shaft and having pivotalconnection with the lower end of said lever, and a pattern drum foractuating the rock shaft.

3. The combination with a circular knitting machine having a needlecylinder and a main knitting station with yarn feeding means andknitting cam mechanisms, of a plurality of auxiliary knitting stationsspaced apart and from said main knitting station circumferentially ofsaid cylinder, yarn feeding means at said auxiliary stationsrespectively, stitch cams at said auxiliary stations respectively, meansfor simultaneously moving said yarn feeding mechanisms between operativeand inoperative positions, means for simultaneously moving said stitchcams betwen operative and inoperative positions, said auxiliary stationswhen active being adapted to knit a corresponding number of courses inaddition to the course knit at the main station, and a single set ofyarn clamping and cutting devices for acting on the yarns fed at all ofsaid auxiliary stations.

ARTHUR A. CAUDLE.

